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Learning American History

This document provides tips for learning American history through a PATH course. It discusses forming connections between historical events, people, and concepts. It then lists tips for various aspects of learning history in class, studying at home, taking exams and quizzes, participating in discussions, completing homework, writing research papers, and communicating with tutors. The overall document aims to help students improve their skills for learning history and performing well in the course.

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Dave Allen
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55 views

Learning American History

This document provides tips for learning American history through a PATH course. It discusses forming connections between historical events, people, and concepts. It then lists tips for various aspects of learning history in class, studying at home, taking exams and quizzes, participating in discussions, completing homework, writing research papers, and communicating with tutors. The overall document aims to help students improve their skills for learning history and performing well in the course.

Uploaded by

Dave Allen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Learning American History

PATH American History 2018-2019

Introduction

It isn’t easy! Learning American history requires a deep dive into complex concepts, personalities and events.
There are a lot of proper nouns to keep track of -- Constitution, Thomas Jefferson, Federalist Party, etc. Under
the surface there are hidden agendas, questionable motives, and ugly truths. It requires learning a lot of
information just to start to make connections between people, events, and the impact they had on American
history. However, it is not impossible!

Learning itself is an acquired skill. So is demonstrating that you have learned the material by doing well in an
assessment of your knowledge and understanding. With practice and repeated application you can improve
your skills in both. The tips and suggestions provided below should help you in improving your ability to learn
and score higher in PATH American History. They should also help you in your future education, workplace, and
every day life.

Forming Connections

In learning American history, exact dates aren’t usually important, but remembering sequences (timelines) and
understanding cause and effect are. Collectively these can be considered as connections; Who did what, when
and why? What were the motivations of the people involved? What could they control, what could they
change? What couldn’t they control, and what couldn’t they change? What events changed the course of their
motivations or control? How did it impact the future? These are the important connections that you should
understand and retain. Moreover, only you can make connections that are meaningful to you. Your tutor can't
make those connections for you since we all have a unique way of understanding and remembering. Try to
discover and use a method for forming connections that works for you.

Tips for Learning American History

Tips for In Class

• Pay attention and listen.


o Minimize distractions.
o Sit where you can see the screen.
o Pick a seat where you won’t be tempted to doze off, check your texts, chat with your
neighbor, etc.
• Take good advantage of breaks.
o Stretch
o Socialize
o Biology
• Participate.
o Ask questions if you are curious or don’t understand.
o Answer questions posed by the tutors.

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Tips for Studying at Home

• Be sure to do the reading.


o Should require 1-2 hours per week
o Read some or all more than once
• Take notes.
o in class and while reading
o watch for bold terms on slides, Key Ideas
o identify the concepts elaborated open in the reading and presentations
o try to understand the concepts, not just the factual statements

Tips for Taking Exams and Quizzes

• In general,
o Use the alloted time to check any answers you aren't sure of.
o "Trick" questions are unintentional

• True/False Questions
o Recognizing the names and events in the question doesn’t mean it is true
o Turn the question around to see if that makes more sense or sounds more correct
o Example:
▪ True or False: “Alexander Hamilton shot and killed Aaron Burr in a duel.” Turn the
question around and consider both possibilities.
▪ Aaron Burr shot and killed Alexander Hamilton, so the question must be FALSE.
o Questions claiming absolutes (all, never, no, only, everyone, etc.) are rarely true
▪ Examples: "All African-Americans were slaves." "George Washington never told a
lie." "Every American was in favor of the American Revolution." are all FALSE.

• Multiple Choice Questions


o Eliminate the obviously wrong answers first
o Choose between the remaining answers
o Always pick the best (most accurate) answer, even if the best is not perfect
o Keep the timeline in mind to eliminate impossible answers
▪ Example: George Washington could not have led the army in the War of 1812 (he
died in 1799).
o Supersets are better (more likely correct) answers than subsets
▪ Example: "George Washington was the first US President" is more likely to be correct
than "George Washington was the first US President and had four children."
o Look up the answer if you still don’t know it
▪ It is better to learn the answer at the last minute than not at all

• Short Essay Questions


• Give substantive answers – don’t just repeat the question in statement form
o Example: “Why was Thomas Jefferson opposed to a large military?”
o “Thomas Jefferson was against a large military.” does not answer the question.
o “Thomas Jefferson believed that a large military could be used to overthrow the
government, and therefore was a threat to democracy.” is much better.
• Use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

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o “i agree,” “You’re answer is very good,” and “I find your commnet extreemly facinating”
are bad examples
• Your answers should be clear, logical, and relevant.
o “Wishes are hopping and trees are west,” “Nothingness stole the goods,” and “Colorful
clay is not all that great,” are all bad examples

Tips for Discussion

• Original posts
o Follow the same guidelines as in the tips for "Short Essay Questions" above in posting your
answers to the question asked in the Discussion assignments.
• Responses to other students' posts
o Post substantive comments – don’t just agree/disagree.
▪ Example: “… I believe people have too much freedom in this country…”
▪ “I agree,” “You said it!” and “Word.” are not substantive answers
▪ "I agree, because people often abuse their freedom to take advantage of other people."
is better.
• Discussions vary in point value from week to week
o Usually 2 points
o Maximum 10 points

Tips for Homework

• Do the reading and review your class notes before attempting to do the Homework assignments.
• Take your time. There is no time limit other than the due date.
• Use all three attempts allowed if you need to to get a perfect score.

Tips for Research Papers

• Read the assignment completely (remember the brown M&Ms story?)


• Follow the instructions to the letter.
o Both content and format count.
o Does your paper look like the example provided?
o Adhere to the Plaguerism Agreement

Tips for Communicating with the Tutor


• Send me email ([email protected]) or a message through Schoology
o Follow up! If you ask me to help you be sure to check for my answer.
• Call or text me on my phone (507) 398-2839.
• Make an office appointment or other arrangement to about your grades, questions about the material, or
other concerns
o Let me know you want to meet before 12NOON on that day
o I can be available until 1PM. I will leave at 12NOON if no one asks to meet.
o Bring your lunch!

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Tips for Projects
• Be creative
• Take the time and effort to make it meaningful to you.
• Have fun!

October 31, 2018

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